The livingHerpestes species aresexually dimorphic, with females smaller than males. They range in weight from 0.6 to 3.6 kg (1.3 to 7.9 lb).[2] They share several characteristics, including the shape of thecheek teeth and of thetympanic bullae, and the presence of the first uppermolar teeth. They are allsolitary.[3]Males have onechromosome less than females, as oneY chromosome is translocated to anautosome.[4]
Thescientific nameHerpestes was proposed byJohann Karl Wilhelm Illiger in 1811 for mongoose species in the south of theOld World, commonly called "Ichneumon" at the time.[5]Until 1835, 12 mongoose species from Africa and Asia were classified as belonging to the genusHerpestes.[6]In 1864,John Edward Gray listed 22Herpestes species, which he considered as part of theViverridae.[7]In 1882,Oldfield Thomas reviewed African mongoosezoological specimens innatural history museums. He subordinated those into the genusHerpestes that have nearly nakedsoles, fourpremolars, small last lowermolars with two externalcusps and whose last upper molars are 40-60% smaller than the last upper premolars. His list comprised eight species in Africa.[8]St. George Jackson Mivart listed 21Herpestes species, including seven in Africa and 13 in Asia. He also determinedHerpestes species by thedentition of mongoose specimens. His criteria included small premolars, small inner cusps of the third upper premolars and transversely extended second upper molars with rather concave posterior margins; their bodies are long with long tails, short legs and fivedigits to each paw.[9]Wallace Christopher Wozencraft recognised 10Herpestes species as valid in 2005.[1]
Phylogenetic analysis of African and Asian mongoose specimens revealed that they belong to three distinctgenetic lineages; the two African lineagesdiverged in theEarly Miocene around19.1 million years ago and18.5 million years ago, and the AsianUrva lineage at around17.4 million years ago. The following African mongooses are now placed in the genusHerpestes:[12]
^Taylor, M.E. & Matheson, J. (1999). "A craniometric comparison of the African and Asian mongooses in the genusHerpestes (Carnivora: Herpestidae)".Mammalia.63 (4):449–464.doi:10.1515/mamm.1999.63.4.449.S2CID84384697.
^abRüppell, E. (1835)."Herpestes. Illiger".Neue Wirbelthiere zu der Fauna von Abyssinien gehörig [New vertebrates belonging to the Fauna of Abyssinia] (in German). Frankfurt am Main: S. Schmerber. pp. 27–32.
^Pomel, A. (1853)."Herpestes. Illig.".Catalogue méthodique et descriptif des vertébrés fossiles découverts dans le bassin hydrographique de la Loire. Paris: Baillière. pp. 64–66.
^Lydekker, R. (1887)."Herpestes lemanensis, Pomel".Catalogue of the fossil Mammalia in the British museum, (Natural History). Vol. 5, Supplement. London: British Museum (Natural History). p. 317.
^Linnaeus, C. (1758)."Viverra ichneumon".Caroli Linnæi Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. Tomus I (decima, reformata ed.). Holmiae: Laurentius Salvius. p. 41.
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